Braiding machine



Dec. 16, 193C. G. D. MALLoRY 1,785,683

BRAIDING MACHINE Gerold D Mano mi Y vPatented Dec. Y16, 1930 @Ensures PATENT OFFICE GERALD I). MALLRY, YOF AKRON,OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMEANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATEON F OHIO BRAXDING MACHINE Application led May 15, 1929. Serial No. 363,369.

This invention relates tobraiding machines generally and has particular' relation to apparatus of the above designated character which shall be especially applicable for braids; ing bead tape employed in the beads of pneu matic tire casings.

`One object of the invention is to provide a vbraiding machine in which a plurality of spools upon which wire or other material is Je .fspirally wound will be located in a stationary position upon the'machine relative to a plurality of other spools also Vsupporting such wire or material. I n -Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for braiding wires or other l tension resisting elements at a more rapid rate than; the machines heretofore employed for this purpose.

Another object'ofthe invention is to provide a braiding'inachine embodying a greatly` reduced number of moving parts as compared to the machines heretofore employed, thus proportionately reducing the depreciation in 1 such machines from breakage, Wear, etc.

.Prior to the invention, in machines of this character, all of the-spools of wire generally havebeen inovably mounted relative to each Y other and consequently, ithas been impossible topper-ate such machines at high Arates of speed without producing an imperfect article of inanufacture or without an excessive amount of breakage and wearl of the parts of the machine. f y For a better understanding of the inven- "ticiureference may now be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the specification, in which z" f Figui'el illustrates a fragmentary plan f view of one form of apparatus embodying lthe principles of the invention;

Figure 2 Visl a cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated byFigure 1', taken sub-` stantially alongthe line II-II thereof;

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of another form which the invention may assume;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated byl Figure 13, taken substantially along the line IV--IV thereof;

Figure 5-is a'fview illustrating a brake 5f: mechanism employed tov oppose the rotative movement of the spools embodied in the machines illustrated by Figures 1 and 4; and

.Figure 6 is a view of a section of wire tape braided by the apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a motor 10, rigidly secured to the floor of a building, is provided with a drive shaft 11 projecting therefrom, upon an intermediate portion of which a sprocket wheel 12 is secured. A chain 13, driven bythe sprocket wheel `12, in turn drivesa sprocket wheel 14, which` is rigidly mounted upon a shaft 16 having a roller 17 rigidly secured on an intermediate portion thereof beyond the sprocket wheel. Journal bearings 19 and 21 rotatably support the shaft 16 adjacent its opposite ends. A roller 22 disposed closely adjacent the roller 17, likewise is rigidly secured on an intermediate portion of a shaft 23 which, like the shaft 16, is rotatably mounted adjacent its opposite ends in a pair of journal bearings 24. The rollers 17 and 22 are positively driven in opposite directions by a pair of intermediate spur gears 26 and 27 which are rigidly secured on the shafts 16 and 23, respectively.

A bevel gear 28, rigidly secured'on the end ofthe shaft 11 beyond the sprocket wheel 12, meshes with a bevel gear 29 which is rigidly mounted upon an intermediate portion of a vertically disposed shaft 31 having its lower end rotatablysupported by a thrust bearing 32. The upper end of the shaft 31 projects through a centrally disposed opening formed in a large circular frame plate 33, which is supported at its outer edges by spaced ped- Qestals 34. Bolts 36, employed for securing the frame plate 33 rigidly upon the pedestals 34, likewise securea plurality of pedestals 37 upon the upper surface of the plate 3.3, directly above the pedestals 34. On the upper ends of the pedestals 37, a large guide ring'38, divided into two concentric annuli or rails, is secured by bolts 39. The upper end of the shaft 31 is rotatably supported by a bearing 41, which is secured to the upper surface of the plate by bolts 42. A sprocket wheel 43 l secured on the end of the shaft 31 beyond the bearing drives a chain 44 which in turn drives a sprocket Wheel 46 rigidly mounted on an intermediate portion of a vertically'disposed shaft 47.

A three-to-one driving ratio between ther shafts and 3l respectively is maintained L :i v i 1 7 1: oy a similar invei se ratio oetiveen t ie size oi vthe gears 46 ands-3. The lower end of the shaft l? is rotatably mounted in a thrust bearing i8 secured rigidly to the plate 33 by Vbolts 4.9, While the upper end thereof isjournaled in an opening formed in the' cooperating rails of the guide ring 38. A gear 51, rigidly secured on the upper end of the shaft d? aojacent the guide ring 38, meshes with an projecting through slightly ecceiitri'c'aliy. disy posed openings Y gears and the discs 5d.

vertically disposed pins 62., (Figurefilg 6l extending Ytniioug.iV the l secured adjacent one end of the brackets 56., pivotally support theends of va correspendingk Y iiuinberof springs 63.` The opposite ends of the springs G3 are adapted to be slidably disposed against blocks 64 likewise secured rigidly upon the brackets y56 adgaceiit theopposite ends thereof. Spools 66, upon' which Wire 65suitable for the construction of bead tape]l orot-her similar Uension resisting niaterial, isvvound, are rotatablymounted on all ofthepins 59 projecting frompthe brachets v56 throughfthe'openings 61. The louer.

Y flanges of the spools 66 are adaptedto-deflect the springs 63 out of a"rectilinear'positionbetweenthepi'ns 62 and blocltsl, as a result of lwhich theY springs exert a brakii'igacticn against rotational movement ofthe spools Adj acent the edges of the discs lrandgears 52 vopposite the openings 6l, apertures 6'? excte'nd radially inwardly from the edges thereof. through which wir es "('O from reels 68 are Y adapted toglieV disposed. lins169,supportnthe reels 68, are rotatably mounted in secured to the frame plate 33 by bolts 72.` e The series of gears 52, secured to the discs Y54,

spaced pairsof .brackets 7l Which are rigidly are provided With pairs of gears 51a similar tothe gear 5]. interineshing with eacli adjacent pair of the gears at points more Widely spaced than the interruption thereunder' caused by the openings 67. e'fhus the' gears 52 and-.consequently the discsivl1 always will be driven positivelyevenWhen the apertures 67 ar'edirectly opposite 'one of each ofthe successivepairs of driving gears." r Y 4itisapparent that the discs 5d all Will be Y leiver surface oi ne gears 52.

edges ofthering 93 are slidably dis viosed in'Y 'grooves 95 formed in the adjacent ends of driven in the saine direction at a rate three times as fastl as the rate of rotation of the shaft 3l. r)The shaft 31 also is provided ith a cam 76 secured rigidly to the upper end thereof above the sprocketwheel li-3. This am comprises a pair of arcuate cam surfaces 77 and 78,' each including approximately ,120o

of angular distance relative to the centerof Y the shaft 3l, and are separated by a pair of cam surfaces79 and 91, each including substantially V60" of angular distance relative to such center. The distance between t1 center of the shaft 3l is substantially greater than the distancebetu-'een the corresponding elements of the surface 77 and the center of the shaft, While the Vdistance between such center and thesurface elements of the cam surfaces 79 and 8l isfsubstaiitially asvmuch less-than the iirst value as'it isgreater than the second.

ne surf` face-'elements ci the cam surface 79 and they roller 82, adapted to be engaged successively by the surfacesof the cam 75,A is rotata.-

bly mounted on a pin 83 having rits lovver'end rigidly 'secured Yintermediate thee'nds of a caniflever 8d. i bracket, to Which one' end of the Vlever 8d is pivotally secured b-yapin "1.87, is rigidly secured to the frame of thema? chine upon the bearing 4l. rEhe lbracket 86 also is provided YWith avertically disposed portion 98, theupper end of which issecured to one end of a spring 89,While the opposite end of the spring is secured in an iiitermej diateportionrof the cam lever 84. The end of thek cain'leve'r 84 opposite the pin 87 is slidably-disposed in a bracket 91 which is rigidly secured'by bolts 92 upon'tlie lovver surface of l Y Iz i acircumrerentially. movable ring 93 disposed immediately belovvthe brackets kvon "1' l,

f tl I rlhe oppo.;

spaced pairs lof brackets 94 secured rigidly,

by bolts 96 to ring 38.

.The reels 58 arcuately Guide rino* 38 between th l'e tr "r g. u g Y -e auyacen pairs or discs oil.Y Whenthe roller 921is traversing are positioned vdirectly below either of thesurfaces 79 0r 81,'the Wires 70 frcinthe reels project through spaced open-v HK i Y ings9i formed in the ring 93 and aredisposed in the arcuate openings 98. v/Vhenthei'oller the lower surface of the guidef formed openings 98 'formed in the 82is traversing either of the cam surfaces 77 f or. 78, the'openings 97 in the ring 93 shift the Wires to positions alternately Within theaper- Y tures (Si of adgacent pairs oitheoiscset. All l of Ll the spools 66 are adaptedto converge centi-ally above t-lie inachineover a roller 99 supize tnewiresboth from thereels 68 andfrom V ported on a'pin lOl between a spaced-pailT of. i

barsl02 which are secured rigidlyv above theV machine. Y

A secondroller y103, traversedby the vvfires Lfrom the reels and spoolsand located din .iso y wire remains during 180o of rotation'of the -rectly above, the rollers 17 and 22, is rotatf ably supported on a pin 104, likewise secured mounted in brackets 108 secured vto the Hoor of the building, while therebeyond itV is wound on a reel 109 which engages the surface of the roller 17 in frictionally driven relation. A centrally disposedshaft 111, on which the reel 109 is mounted, is .supported adjacent its opposite ends in Jdie upper ends of a spaced pair of a1'ms112,'which are normally inclined toward the roller 17. The lower ends of the arms 112 are pivoted, as indicated at 118, in supporting bearing brackets 114. The wires may be tensioned slightly belowthe roller 99 by employing a ring 116 or any otherl suitable mechanical device for applying/weight thereto.

Vhen the motor lOfisenergized, the rollers 17 and 22 draw the ywires 70 and 65 from the reels 68 and the spools 66 to be wound collectively upon the reel 109. During this ,c ,.opeiatioii, beginning with the elements in the positions shown by Figure 1, the discs 54 are continuously rotated within .the guide ring 38. As soon as the roller 83 moves to the cam surface 79, the ring 93 is shifted in 1 a counter-clockwise direction, thereby shiftine` the wire from the position indicated atm, to the position indicated at y, where the disc 54 ,.and while the roller 83 traverses the cam surface 79. At this period in the operation of the apparatus the roller 83 moves to l, roller83 traverses the surface 81. Y as soon as the roller 83 moves from the cam the 'cam surface 78, thereby again shifting they ring 93 in a counter-clockwise direction and likewise shifting the wire 70 from the position indicated at g/.to the position indiated'at z. At the time the latter shifting occurs the aperture ,67 is ina position 1800 c from that shown by Flgure 1 and accordinglyV in proper position to receive the wire 70. While the roller entirely traverses the cam surface 78, the disc 54 rotates 360o and as the roller 83 moves tothe cam surface 81,

. the wire 70, together with the like movement of the ring 93, moves in a clockwise direction back from the position indicated at z to the position indicated at i, where it remains whileV the discrotates 180 and the Likewise,

surface 81 'back to the cam surface 77, the wire 70, together with thering 93, is shifted in a clockwise direction, the wire moving from the position indicated at y to the position indicated at m.

.TWhen the wires 70 from the spools 68 remain in the apertures 67 during 360O rotative movement of the discs54, they are plaited ori-braided about the wires' 65 that-are being .supported upon the member 41.

22. However, when it is desired to construct a flat tape, some of the spools and reels are left empty, depending on the number of wires desired to be employed in the tape and the machine is operating as before. It is apparent that 'several flat tapes may beconstructed simultaneously by simply providing an unfilled spool or reel at intervals throughout the machine.

Any desired variation in the number of times that the adjacent Wires are plaited about eachother ma be made by varyingr the rate of rotation ofy the rollers 17 and 22 relative to the speed of operation of the braiding mechanism. Likewise, it is apparent that a great many variations in the braid pattern of the article of manufacture produced by this machine may be provided for by varying the surfaces of the cam 76, changing the rate of rotation of the cams relative to each otheror by changing the direction of rotation of the discs 54.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, the apparatus is essentially the same as that illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, except for such dierences as will be described in the succeeding paragraphs' Those portions of the apparatus which have already been described will be designated by numerals corresponding to those employed in describing the construction disclosed by Figures 1 and A pair of cams 118 and 119, secured to the c upper end of the shaftl, are provided with relatively extensive surfaces 121 and 122, embracing 1800, respectively, and which are disposed at equal distances from the center of the shaft. Likewise, cam surfaces 123 and 124, embracing 180o of the cams 118 and 119, respectively, are disposed at equal distances fromv the center of the shaft 31, buty at less distance than the surfaces 121 and 1,22 from such center.' Corresponding portions of therespective cams 118 and 119 are disposed 90 apart with respect to the center of the shaft Separate cam levers 125 and 126 vided with rollers to, that engage the cams 118 and 119, respectively. The inner ends of the levers are pivotally secured, as indicated at 129 and 130, respectively, to a bracket 181 that is rigidly Inforder that the rollers of thelevers 125 and 126 may be constantly urged against the respective `cams, a tension spring 132 is provided, which 127 and 128 secured there-v by Figures 1 and 2. Consequently, adi/acont Y Figure 3.

is connected to intermediate portionsy oit the levers and draws them toward each other. VThe outer ends orn the levers 125 and 2G are siidably disposed within brackets 133 and` 134, respectively, that are secured to a pair et concentrically disposed rings 136 vand Y13?', respectively. Brackets 133 and 139 secured to" the guide ring 33 are provided with grooves 142 and 143, in Ywhicl'i the rings 136 and 137 are slidably and circumerentially movable. OpeningsA 144 and 145, formed ythrough the rings 136 and 137, respectively, are disposed intermediate the opposite limits et travel 'of the rings in positions above the Y reels 63 in alternate relation.. The relation et the sprocket wheels 46 and 43 is such that the shafts and 31 rotate in the ratio of two to one, respectively. Y

Two'pairs ot intermeshing gears 14f3fare provided between each adjacent pair oil 'ears 52, instead Yotone pair of gears 51,.as show discs 54 are rotated in opposite directions lat a rate or rotation twice as great as that oit' the shaft 31. rlhe apertures 67 are formed in the discs 54' on adjacent sides oi? each succeeiiling pair of discs in the position shown in Each timethe cam levers 125 and 123 are shifted by the cams113 and 119, kthe wires from the stationary spools 68 areV shifted en? K tirely across tlieopenings 93 troni the aperture 67 in one of the discs to a corresponding aperture 67 inan adjacent dise.V

Referring to VFigure 3, it will be obseri hat the apertures in adjacent pairs of di c are open toward each other. Duringvthe li s 90"` of rotation: of the shaft 31., the dis s 54 will rotate 1800. it theend of that p 'od otcontinuous operation of the.apparatus, thel rollerv'127 will move suddenly from the cam surface `121 to the cam surface 123, thereby causing the ring G to' be shi fted circumferinitially in a counterclockwise direction as l the' viewed in Figure it the saine time wires FZO that are disposed inthe ope 144, areshi'fted in a eounter-cloclrwise tion from the aperture G7 in one disc to a corresponding aperture in the adjacent disc.

Continuing the rotation ot the cams 1.13

and 119 through an additional angle or" 900, and the discs through 1800, the roller y123 will beshifted outwardly from the surface 124 to the suriace 122, thereby shitting the illustrated in Figure 3. The adjacent discsf f ring 137Y in a counter-clockwise direction, and

movingthe wires .70 that' are disposed within the openings 145 from the aperture '67 to corresponding apertures inthe adjacent discs.V When the shaft 31 has beenv rotated through- 270,the rolleij 127 is shifted bach to the cam surface 121, thereby shifting the lever in fa clockwise directionback to the position at that moment will have vbeen rotated an additional 130' from theposition illustrated "of the invention or from in Figure 3, while the ywires in the openii 144 are shifted in a clockwise direction from anaperture 67 to a correspondingaperture, which is at that time disposed in opposed relation thereto. At the completion et 3600 rotation of the shaft 31, tho roller 128 again Yassuii'ies the position shown by Figure 3, thereby shifting the ring 137 in a clockwise direction and moving the wires in the opening'145 to the original position shown.

lt will'be observed that while the shat't 31, together with the cams 113 and 119, rotates 360, the discs 54 are rotated two complete revolutions, and that the rings 136 and 137 are shiftedv successively in counter-clockwise direction and clockwise direction, one actua tion of one the rings occurrin durinp' 90 of rotation oi the shat-l Ah wire lentendirg through the opreniios reinains'witain an aperture 6? durir 3 rotation before it shiited to an disc. 'lair-swiss, this s true ywith respect o .the wir through the openin i rotation or the discsy 54, two of the wires at the inietirne withinonefot the ape tures 67. 'lne spools and operated in the same manner di sclosed in Figure 2. .v y

' 1rlromthe Jforegr'iintg' description, it will be as Vthose apparent that a greatfvariety ot types ot braided wireV may be produced at a very high rate of speed in production by an apparatus ports,`spaced apertures formed in 'the sup- 145. lduring '130,0 or A 66 and reels 63 are ino .nted

ports,Y notched carriers rotatablyvrinoun'ted i within the aperturesV to rotate'about axes' Vperpendicular Yto ther planes of the support,

the' car-l means for simultaneously rotating riers, means for supportin spools eecentri- Y Ycallyniounted upon the carriers, fire-d spools mounted adjacent the supports upon the sides opposite the spools upon the carriers and constituting means for supplying strancs,

of flexible material between the supports and means comprising a member apertured 4to receive the strands extending` parallel to vtl e` supports and disposed between the'fiiiodk spools and the carriers 4for oscillating theV strands ot Vflexible material from the rtired spools from the opening in one` carrier, tov the opening in the adjacent carrier Whereby to vcause the strands from the fixed spools to be entwined With the strands from the spools upon the carriers to form the braid.

2. A braiding machine, comprising tivo concentrically arranged spaced rings having mating and approximately semi-circularly arranged apertures formed therein, rotatable carriers mounted Within the apertures having eccentrically disposed spool carrying means, a notch formed in the side of each carrier, the notch in each carrier being so `disposed as to face in the same direction as the notch in the adjacent carrier, means simultaneously to rotate the carriers in the same direction, iixed spools disposed adjacent' the sides of the rings opposite the spools upon .the carriers, meansy simultaneously to rotate the carriers in the same direction, and means to oscillate strands of flexible material from the fixed spools from the notch in one carrier to the notch in the adjacent carrier, said means comprising an oscillating ringhaving apertures formed thereon through which the strands from the fixed spools are passed.

3. A braiding machine comprising a pair oi spaced supports, each support having a plurality of arcuate notchesrformed therein, the notches in one support mating With the corresponding notches in the other support,

l carriers rotatably mounted Within the arcuateV notches,.said carriers having spools mounted thereon and having notches formed in the edges thereof, the notch in one carrier facing the notch in the adjacent spool, means simultaneously to rotate the carriers, each carrier rotating in opposite direction With respect to the adjacent carrier, fixed spools mounted adjacent the carriers and having strands of flexible material extend- .ing through the notches in the carriers, and

means for oscillating the strands from the notch in one carri-er to the notch in the adjacent carrier, the means being so formed that the strands in adjacent notches are oscillated in opposited directions.

4. A braiding machine comprising a pair of concentrically disposed rings having spaced carrier receiving apertures formed In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, U. S. A., this 14th day of May, i929.

a GERALD D. MALLORY. 

